What Are Los Angeles Landlord Responsibilities vs. Tenant Responsibilities?
Rental property investment comes with a lot of responsibilities for both the investor and the renter. According to the California Landlord-Tenant laws, landlords are required to keep the property habitable, and tenants are expected to maintain the habitability of the property. Both homeowners and renters have their parts in maintaining the structural integrity of the rental. Here, we take a look at the respective responsibilities of each.
Responsibilities of Landlords in Los Angeles
According to the California Landlord-Tenant Law, landlords are expected to provide a space fit to live, for their renters. This seemingly simple expectation includes several responsibilities such as,
Compliance With Anti-Discrimination Laws
As The Federal Housing Act of California states, a landlord should not discriminate against applicants based on race, religion, gender, nationality, sex, and color. Refusing to sell, rent, and lease the home to protected individuals, denying a home loan, or not negotiating the sale, rental, or lease of the property is considered a violation of the rule. Hence, it is the landlord’s responsibility to treat all their tenants equally and strictly abide by anti-discrimination laws while renting the property.
Provision of a Habitable Space
Under the Implied Warranty of Habitability, it is a legal responsibility of the landlord to provide a habitable home to their tenants and to ensure that these conditions meet the accepted living standards. To this end, landlords are supposed to provide timely maintenance services to the tenants, take care of plumbing, broken heaters, and air filters, offer regular access to hot water, maintain roofs and hardwood flooring, eliminate mold or pest infestations, and ensure adequate supply of electricity, water, and other utilities. Make sure you regularly repair non-functioning appliances and install safety tools and security systems for the tenant’s convenience.
Tenant Disclosures in the Lease
According to federal and local laws, landlords are responsible for making certain disclosures to tenants before they move in, which may affect the occupants’ ability to live comfortably. These include disclosures related to existing damages, presence of environmental and health hazards, security deposits, smoking policy, rent control, presence of registered sex offenders in the neighborhood, and shared utility arrangements.
Responsibilities of Tenants in Los Angeles
Like landlords, tenants also have certain duties and responsibilities to make sure that the property stays well-maintained. Some of the main ones include,
Keeping the Property Safe and Clean and Report Issues Immediately
Tenants are supposed to take reasonable care of the rental unit along with the common areas such as hallways, yard, porch, and others. They should regularly dispose of the trash, inform the landlord about mold growth or excessive buildup on floors and walls, prevent rust, and use the appliances well. They must also treat the property respectfully and take care to keep it clean and undamaged.
If the tenants notice any significant maintenance-related issue, such as rust in taps, leaking roofs, damaged plumbing, blockages, or any other problems, they are responsible for informing the landlord immediately.
Preventing Intentional Damage to the Property
Normal wear and tear are expected while renting the property, but tenants are responsible for preventing any significant damage occurring due to recklessness. They are responsible for repairing or replacing all types of damages that may occur due to their misuse or negligence or that of their friends, relatives, and pets.
Adhere to Clauses Mentioned in the Lease Agreement
Renters are expected to carefully read the lease agreement before moving in and understand all the clauses related to their occupancy. They are required to abide by the policies for maintenance, pets, lease termination, etc. and property usage rules included in the agreement.
The state of California has clearly defined landlord and tenant responsibilities for the most part, and the ones that are ambiguous can be cleared with a detailed lease. You can take the help of an experienced property management company, like MGMT Group, to understand your responsibilities as a Los Angeles landlord.
MGMT Group is a full-service residential property management company with over ten years of experience managing real estate throughout the Los Angeles area. We take a proactive approach while managing our properties and believe in working intelligently to provide better results for client portfolios.
Contact us at MGMT Group Inc. for more details.